Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 2:Various political parties have criticized the Union Budget for 2020-2021 and termed it disappointing for people of Jammu and Kashmir UT.
CPI (M) senior leader Mohammed Yousf Tarigami has termed the Budget presented by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is disappointing for the people of Jammu and Kashmir as there is no concrete plan in it to revive the shattered economy of the erstwhile State.
In a statement he said the BJP Government has been talking loudly about development in Jammu and Kashmir. But the allocation and the mention in the Budget itself does not say anything about mission development. There is no policy statement in the Budget. “We need something specific in the Budget and unfortunately, it is the most disappointing Budget for the people of J&K”, he added.
He said Rs 30,757 crore allocation for J&K in 2020-21 budget sounds like a mystery. Whole businesses in J&K have been shattered post abrogation of Article 370 last August and there is no mention in reviving it and to assist those who suffered huge losses. According to a recent report of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, disruption since August has resulted in loss of jobs of 1.44 lakh people while economy has suffered losses worth Rs 17,878 crore, he said.
Providing employment to the youth has become a chronic issue at the national level and much more so in J&K as it lacks any private sector. The unemployment level in J&K has reached to crescendo. But instead of finding ways and means to provide employment, clampdown on internet services and restrictions resulted in huge job losses in Kashmir, he added.
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Dr Manohar Lal Sharma gave the thumbs down to the Union Budget, saying Finance Minister failed to give a clear road map on how to pull the economy out of the slump and no clear road map was given for job creation and handling rising unemployment in the country.
Alleging that the said Budget has completely failed to address the current economic slowdown and steps to curb the price rise of essential commodities in the country, he said the economy was bordering on recession and Finance Minister has failed to answer the crucial question of how to boost public consumption.
“Instead of mentioning tax revenue, she listed out receipts that include Rs 1.76 lakh crore payout by RBI and the funds received by privatization of public sector units and termed the Budget as a budget for privatization and everything is to be done using the PPP route, including Railways, Health and Infrastructure”,” he said adding that the Government was selling the Railways, BSNL, Air India and now LIC.
Suggesting that the Government should have focused on reviving small and medium enterprises since they generate employment and help increasing exports, Mr Sharma said that Finance Minister didn’t elucidate her plan to double farmers’ income.
Shiv Sena (SS)Bala Saheb Thackeray Jammu and Kashmir unit has demanded GST and bank interest waiver for farmers. State president, Manish Sahni, while giving his feedback on the budget said that there is nothing to provide relief directly and clearly to the farmers in the budget. Sahni said that the present Government is juggler of statistics if the Sensex falled by a thousand points immediately after the budget is a proof of how popular the budget is.
Sahni said that Finance Minister has not been able to give any clear policy for handling unemployment and relief from economic recession. He said that this time the Government did not even mention “Ache Din”. He said with interest waiver, GST should be completely abolished from tractors and other equipment purchased for farming and hybrid seeds, insecticides etc. He said that the interest waiver would end the tradition of loan waiver for farmers to a great extent.
J&K Youth PDP’s provincial president for Kashmir, Er. Nazir Ahmed Yatoo castigated Union Budget and termed it as ‘financial farce’ and mere election stunt.
In a statement he said while everyone in the country was waiting with a baited breath to see a budget of thrill and stimulus but unfortunately the Government yet again came forward as big disappointment. He said it’s a travesty that luxury items consumed by rich have gone cheaper while daily requirements meant for lower and middle class have become costlier.
He questioned whether this is Government of rich only?. He further added that Kashmiris are not impressed by flowery phrases drawn from ancient Sanskrit texts but are rather interested to see allocations. ‘Tourism sector which is back bone of J&K’s economy has got nothing except pennies and that too at a stage when UT is struggling against five month long shutdown since august 5th.
Yatoo questioned Union Government on Kisan Bima and slashing it down by 35% , incompletion of railway from Katra , unemployment and fate of medium scale industries.
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